Kim pulled the covers closer, hoping sleep might over come her and subdue her tears. She was right, he hated her, and now she was mourning. Mourning like he was dead and she herself had dropped the knife.
Tomorrow Kim would have to start anew, had to stand up on her feet again and slowly move on. Tomorrow she'd start her life without Ron and tonight she'd cry her last tears. Like she'd have to pack the emotions and memories away with the pictures and gifts and everything else. Wipe it all away, run from the pain. She tossed again, snuggling with her pillow; a part of her wishing it was him.
"I'll never forget you, Ron."
Engineer
Chapter 3
The ceiling was becoming boring in the midsummer night. Ron sighed, his mind still trying to sort it all out. He knew he had to apologize to Kim, he had to set things right because despite all this confusion, and despite a lingering anger more to himself than at her, Ron knew one thing was true. He needed her. Almost all his life spent with Kim, how could he begin without her by his side? More than that, he needed to know why. Ron certainly couldn't figure it out himself. Until that day on the boardwalk his life was finally perfect, blissfully unaware of anything wrong. Everyday was bright, every moment with her treasured. And it still was.
He still loved her, and that was one of the hardest things of all. It would be a lot easier if he could just forget it, forget every thing, every word…every kiss. Forget how he had dreamt about it, and forget how he had once thought such dreams could come true. Ron turned on his side, being careful not to wake up Rufus.
Tomorrow he'd have to make amends…perhaps things could go back to the way they were. He would return to these nights alone with just dreams and wishes, and she would go and move one to the next hotty out there. After all, he had his chance, and inside he had the memories of a time, however brief, that Kim was his and his alone.
Maybe that alone could get him through the night.
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"Hi Mrs. Dr. P." Ron offered his best smile to Kim's mother.
"Hello Ron, do you want to come in?" She asked, but Ron shook his head.
"I was hoping, that if Kim wasn't, you know, busy if she could come out…?" She wasn't dense, Mrs. Possible had known about what happened, and it was a hopeful sign to see Ron here. Maybe things would just work themselves out, after all it'd be just too sad for a friendship like Kim and Ron's to just end like that. But she sighed.
"I'm sorry, Ron. Kim's gone out with a friend already, I believe his name was Hunter. He moved in maybe two days ago," Mrs. P said, motioning to the house next to them. "You can probably catch up with them at the mall." Ron sighed, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Nah, that's ok. When she gets home, do you think you could tell her I dropped by?"
"Of course."
"Thanks," and then he turned, walking down the walk. So that was it? Was he just that easy to replace? Maybe a trip to Bueno Nacho might help. He wondered briefly about what this Hunter guy might look like. Probably the next Mankey, he scoffed, imagining some guy with slick black hair, trendy clothes and ultra cool smile. Probably just as shifty. He finally arrived at Bueno Nacho, only to find his normal booth pre-occupied.
"…And then he says--." The boy blinked black eye contacted eyes at Kim who was staring over his shoulder. "Don't tell me. 40 FBI guys with huge guns are behind me? Wait no, maybe a gang of biker chicks?" Hunter sighed and turned, offering Ron a smile. "My mistake." He offered Ron a hand. "Hey, name's Hunter, I'm new." Ron just stood there. To say Hunter wasn't what Ron had in mind was an understatement. Long black hair with red streaks pulled back in a ponytail with lose stands, black clothes, and enough spiked jewelry around his huge black pants and arms to sink a ship. Not to mention his colorless eyes were beyond creepy.
"Is he always this friendly?" Hunter asked Kim before tucking his hand back in his pockets. "This guy a friend of yours, Kim?" She blinked, turning her attention back to Hunter.
"Uh-Yea, this is Ron, Ron this is Hunter, my new neighbor. He'll be in the same grade as us next year." Kim was surprised Ron was still standing there, that he hadn't yelled, or maybe ran out the door.
"Ron huh? How 'bout you join us for some snackage? I hear you created the Naco, man that's my fav!" Ron shook his head.
"Kim, I-if you've got a moment, think we could talk?" Ron swallowed hard after that, watching her stand.
"I'll be right back, Hunter."
"Nah, Kim. Take your time, I'll just you know, hang here takin' in the taco goodness." Once Kim and Ron made it outside Hunter stood to order. Kim was probably the nicest prep Hunter had ever met, and when he heard they were moving to a, as the real estate agent had said a "high-upper-middle class neighborhood," he was less than thrilled. Imagine his surprised when someone came to say hi, much less the famous Kim Possible. But this Ron guy. Hunter didn't know what to think about him. The way he stared gave him the impression Ron was like all the other super preps in this area giving the weird kid strange looks. Not to mention the look of pain in Kim's eyes when she saw Ron made Hunter trust him even less.
After grabbing his food Hunter took it back to the booth, only to leave it to lean against a window watching the two talk at the tables just outside the restaurant. Ron wasn't looking at her as he spoke, and Kim had her head in her hands. And it took a lot to not jump to conclusions but already Hunter didn't like the way he was treating her.
"I don't know." Kim said, finally looking up at him, pushing her hair from her view. Ron had explained last night, had asked her why. And she had no answer to give him. "Ron, I…I thought I did, you know I would never…never lie to you about something like that." And he sat there trying to comprehend how one could mistake love. Wasn't it one of those things that you just know you have, a feeling the never really leaves? How can you think you love someone only for it to not be true? But he sighed, knowing if there really was an answer to that, Kim would have told him by now.
"If it's ok with you," he said, still turned away. "Do you think we can still be friends?" He felt her grab his hand and he turned to meet her eyes.
"Of course." Ron stood, his hand still in hers and sat next to her, taking Kim into an embrace. "You don't know how happy you just made me," her words whispered into his ear. "I was so scared you'd never forgive me." He pulled back, wiping her tears.
"KP, you know me, I'm just that kind of guy." The joke sent both into a giggle. For what felt like the first time in far too long both smiled true genuine smiles. Things finally looked ok and their bond still proved strong, if not a bit stronger. Neither could deny the pure happiness just sitting there, hand in hand.
"Hey you two crazy lovebirds," Hunter said, causing both to jump apart. "I was, you know, kinda lonely all by myself in there, so I though I'd come out here. That ok?" He didn't wait for an answer before sitting down with his tray of food. "So, Ron. Mind sharing just how you came up with the greatness that is the nacho?"
Honestly all Hunter wanted was a chance to get to know this guy before he marked him off as just another prep bastard. And honestly he wasn't listening when Ron went into the details. It was more of his body language and his tone. The things people like the ones who lived here weren't that good at faking. Kim seemed happy, which was good. And it was a real kind of happy so he guessed things worked out, whatever it was. But still, there was something about this guy that Hunter couldn't stand. Maybe it was the way he'd look at Kim. Or maybe it's the way he'd talk, or move or something, but there was just something that got so far under Hunter's skin that he could hardly hide it behind his calm cool smile.
Whatever this Ron character was up to Hunter wouldn't let him hurt Kim. If he so much as tried anything on her, there'd be hell to pay. Hunter's thoughts were interrupted.
"Ron, we're inviting Hunter's family over for dinner tonight. Do you want to join us? I'm sure mom wouldn't have a problem with setting up another plate." Ron's face lit up. It had been a week since he had a good dinner. His mother's only specialty of sandwiches and mac-n-cheese just wasn't cutting it anymore. More than that, things would feel that much more like before, he simply couldn't pass it up.
"Wouldn't miss it KP. Are you sure you guys don't mind?"
"Well, I'll ask, but you know we already cook enough for the family plus one anyway. We've…we've had a lot of left-overs in the past week."
"What?" Hunter spoke up. "What about Ron's family? I mean, he must have a mother and father who make him food." He wasn't surprised when they both looked at him. "Oh. Not a very communicative family, I see. Well, ok, to each their own. So, does Ron spend, like all his time with you?" He sipped on his soda waiting for an answer.
"Actually, Hunter," Kim said, annoyance in her tone. "Ron is…" She looked to Ron; as if he had the word she was looking for. "My very best friend. If there's a problem-"
"Oh, no prob, Kim." Hunter said waving his hands. "I was just wonderin'. He just seemed like the kinda guy that would have, you know, more than one friend is all." Hunter paused, looking at the two. "Wait, let me apologize. That came out a little more harsh than what I meant." He cursed himself for being that rude. After all, Kim wouldn't want him dissing her very best friend. "What I meant to say is a guy as cool as Ron has to have more than just, well, you Kim. I mean, with that funny voice and those clothes? Man, who couldn't keep a smile on while he's around?"
Ron crossed his arms, trying his best not to take what Hunter was saying personally. Kim seemed to be doing the same thing, her eyebrow twitching with a bit of restrained anger. Hunter seemed the kind of person who couldn't keep his mouth shut, but Ron couldn't judge him, after all he too was guilty of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Rain came sudden and fast, causing all three to look up at the shakey umbrella over the table.
"We should go." Kim said and Ron sighed, looking at the restaurant with longing eyes. "Wouldn't want to ruin our dinner appetite, Ron." Kim insisted before grabbing his hand. There was a jolt he got from her unexpected touch, but it gave birth to a bittersweet smile. Sweet that Ron would have the chance to feel it, bitter that it reminded him of a still tender and slightly pieced together heart. Hunter scoffed, getting up, following the two into the rain.
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Mrs. Dr. P was not impressed, nor delighted to see Kim and Ron walk into her house dripping wet, though she was glad to see them together. He must have gone to meet up with them after all. She handed Ron his spare outfit kept at this address and pointed him to the guest room where he could get changed. Not like he needed instructions, but she did it anyway, it helped her feel secure. Mr. Possible was with the twins picking up the last few groceries for the dinner, so she sat and waited patiently for Kim to return. They needed to have a little talk.
Kim loved the way it felt after changing from rain soaked clothes. It just felt so fresh and clean, in a different way than a shower. Admittedly, her hair didn't have half the body after rainwater, but she loved the smell. Tossing on her shirt Kim smiled at her reflection. Tonight was going to be great, and perhaps everything was going to be ok. Hopefully Hunter would choose his words a bit more wisely, and hopefully the tweebs wouldn't destroy everything. Maybe it was asking for too much, but she smiled again. At least it would be dinner with Ron again. That in itself was something to look forward to, and it was something she had taken for granted.
Kim sighed, grabbing her brush, trying to force away memories of the past three months. She loved Ron…as a friend. Nothing more. But she had to admit that when it was there it felt so good. Whoever got him later in life they better take good care of him, Kim thought, feeling her heart pound a little heavier. Because they would lose such a w-wonderful person who loved with all his heart.
"Kimmie, would you mind if we had a small talk?" Mrs. P asked as her daughter appeared at the foot of the steps. Kim felt her breath hitch, dreading her mother's famed "small talks." She also knew there was no getting out of it. She had been spotted.
"What's the sitch, mom?" Kim asked, trying not to sound nervous. She followed her mother into the kitchen and both women took a seat.
"Kimmie. Are you sure it's ok to have Ron over? It's only been-"
"Mom, It's fine."
"I can ask him to go home if you want."
"No!" Mrs. Dr. P smirked, getting the reaction she had wanted from her daughter. Kim straightened in her chair, tucking wet strands behind her ear. "I mean, really, it's fine. I-I want him here."
"You never did tell me why you broke it off with Ron." Kim watched her mother cross her arms. "Did he do something to upset you?" God, why did they have to talk about this now? The last thing she needed was for Ron to walk in.
"Mom, can we talk about this later? What if Ron over hears?"
"And what if he does?" Mrs. Possible said coolly. "You've explained to him the reason, haven't you?"
"Well, yeah, but-."
"But what? There isn't something you're leaving out, is there?" She asked, an eyebrow arching. Mrs. Dr. Possible was well aware Ron was listening just beyond the doorway, his back against the hallway wall.
"No. I told him the truth, that I had was wrong." Kim looked away from her mother. "That I never loved him."
"I think you're wrong, Kim. I think you broke up with Ron not because you didn't love him, but because you did." Kim looked her mother dead in the eye to see the elder woman was serious. "I think you were afraid of change."
"No way. Why would I-."
"How did you feel? What was it that finally told you that you needed to end this, that told you that you obviously must not love him the same?" Kim paused, to think about it, her face full of confusion and hurt. She took a breath and began slowly.
"It…I felt guilty every time, every time he'd kiss me. I felt like I had done something wrong, like I was hurting him already." She swallowed forcing back the lump in her throat. "When he'd kiss me, I wanted to run." Mrs. P sighed, hoping Ron was still listening.
"Was it the way he was doing anything?"
"No," Kim answered quietly, her eyes closed. "I just couldn't, it felt wrong. And the more it happened, the more I'd think about the way it used to be. Back when we were just friends."
"Were you scared, Kimmie?" Mrs. P moved to sit closer to Kim, wrapping an arm around her.
"I was scared that I didn't love him, or he didn't really love me, or just-something, and I was scared that if it did happen…that he wouldn't forgive me."
"Were you scared to love him?"
"No! I-I was happy…"
"How did you feel when you kissed him?"
"I…I was scared."
"And what were you scared of?" Mrs. P knew well that Kim was catching on to what she was trying to tell her.
"That everything would change. That he wouldn't be the Ron I knew, or that I might change."
"Do you trust Ron, Kimmie?"
"Of course."
"Then you should trust him to always be himself, especially around you." Kim sighed as her mother stroked her still damp hair, like when they'd have talks when she was young. "Kimmie, things would change but for the better. I know how scary change is. I was afraid when I found out I was pregnant with you. I was afraid it would change the relationship between you father and I, but I talked it over with him and found that I could always trust him to be there, to be himself and love me unconditionally. And knowing that I knew I could promise him the same thing. And now look. Three kids and all these years later we're still in love and still very very best friends at the same time." Kim sat up, and felt her mother wipe away her tears. "Think about what I said, ok?" Kim nodded and hugged her mother tight.
"Thanks mom."
"Anytime, Kimmie."
"Hey Mrs. Dr. Possible, KP." Ron said, walking in like nothing happened, hoping neither noticed his slightly red eyes. Kim was too busy trying to hide her own. "Need any help with the dinner?"
"Not until the boys come back from the store," Mrs. Possible answered, opening the refrigerator. "But you can help me with the salad, Ron. Kimmie, can you set up the table?" Kim nodded and hurried into the dinning room to pull out the good china.
"You heard all of that, didn't you?" Mrs. Possible asked passing Ron a cucumber.
"Yea-I'm so sorry I-." She put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok, Ron, I'm glad you did. I think it was something you both needed to hear. So smile, I think things might just work out after all." They both smiled, and Ron took the arm full of vegetables to the sink. Maybe just maybe everything would be ok. More than that, he'd be a little more prepared if Kim did come to him to talk about what her mother said.
Mrs. Dr. P. was so nice and smart, and well, Kim was down right lucky to have her for a mom. His mom, well she would have been ready to hand him a few anti-depressants and tell him that things would be ok in the end. Feh. If tonight went well, who knows? All things aside he couldn't hide his smile. He could watch Kim setting the table, and suddenly everything seemed right in the world again. Maybe she would heed her mother's words, and maybe just maybe she'd come back to him, and give him a second chance. No, give herself a second chance.
"Ron! The sink!" He blinked, noticing the water over flowing on to the floor. Of course in his style, he jumped, moving for the mop only to fall backwards, skidding into the dinning room and under the table. Trying to get up, and bumping his head he still felt his smile as he heard Kim giggle and offer him a hand.
"Clumsy much?" She asked, his hand still in hers. Ron rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly, his eyes locked on hers.
"Can't beat the Stoppable flair." To his surprise Kim blushed a bit, looking away. Some of her hair hung in her face and hesitantly he moved to push it behind her ear.
"You ok, KP?" he asked, her face back to his.
"If you are." She said quietly, both of them inching closer. Kim could feel herself tremble, her mother's words spinning in her head.
The doorbell rang causing both teens to jump and Mrs. Possible sighed from the kitchen to dinning room doorway.
"I'll go get that. You two finish setting the table." She said with a wink before rushing to the door. Kim cleared her throat.
"Ron, after dinner do you think we could, you know…talk?"
"No problem, KP." She took him into a hug enjoying the lack of guilt, and just the happiness it gave her to feel his arms around her too. She felt so much stronger here in his embrace, and yet she could be just as fragile as well. Kim pulled away, smiling before grabbing the china plates.
"I'll finish in here. Nothing personal, Ron. Just, you know how mom is with the China. We keep it in a bulletproof curio cabinet." He laughed, walking towards the kitchen door way.
"Don't worry about it. I should clean up all this water." She watched him walk into the kitchen and sighed. Tonight was going to be great; nothing was going to go wrong.
"Need help with that Kim?" She spun to see Hunter, hands in his pockets, his mouth chewing gum. "Mom wanted to come over early to you know, just talk and get to know each other before we eat. Is Ron here yet?"
"Yes." Kim said, her voice stern. "I don't know how you meant what you said earlier today, but I'd appreciate it if you treat my friend with respect."
"Just friend this time? I though he was your very best friend. What did something happen?" Kim was about to respond when a short woman walked in, no taller than 5'5". She had long black hair that ended past her knees, black clothes as well, adorned with skulls and silver jewelry. "Oh, Kim. This is my mom. Mom, this is Kim my new friend." The woman extended a pale hand to her and Kim shook it trying not to draw back like she wanted to. The way the woman moved was eerie all on it's own, like it was in slow motion, a white aura like trail coming from her motion. Her touch was pretty cold, her grip firm.
"Hunter has told me much of you and your friend."
"My mom's a psychic." Hunter beamed. "She's totally clairvoyant."
"Hunter is perhaps too proud of his family's traits." She said, her voice so clear it was scary. "His own skills are not yet developed. We are…working on it. Please, Kimberly, will you show us around your beautiful home?" Kim nodded, placing down the plates, locking them away safely in the strong curio cabinet. Once they left Hunter grinned, walking into the kitchen to find Ron finishing up drying the floor.
"Hey, Ron. I wanna apologize for what I said before. I didn't mean for it to sound so, well harsh. You forgive me?" Ron stood; drying his hands on the only dry towel left in the kitchen and grinned, holding out his hand. Hunter took it shaking generously only to stop, grabbing the refrigerator handle for support.
"Is anything wrong?" Ron asked going to help support Hunter, but the teen pulled away, sliding down the appliance.
"You-You can't go back out with Kim." He said in short huffs. "If you do-she'll die."
Jao: Woo! Long chapter since it took me a while to do this. I change the story's genre for chapter 2; seemingly unable to use the horror idea I had before. But Now I came up with a different game plan that incorporates the first idea and I think I can get it to work. If I can I think this story may outmatch Paragon. I would hope so, as most writers wish to out do themselves with every fic. And now I think I can write a decent summery.
I wanted to mention that most things you'd see in here, like narration change and such is intentional. None of my fics are beta-read for the fact my style and rhythm made from odd comma usage and my obsession with hyphens kinda don't work with logical grammar based on rules and limitations. Yea, I do stupid mistakes like "Banana Club." I'm not saying they're flawless, I'm just saying the way it is is more for the way it sounds when you read it regardless to which rules apply where. Try reading it out loud. That's how I write it, I'll type it out, read it out loud and then fix things until it sounds good spoken.
I do appreciate it when people point out mistakes, please don't get the wrong impression. I appreciate the fact people pay that close of attention. O.o; I wanna thank them, but I want them to understand why I do the things I do, and I want to apologize If that bugs anyone.
Thanks everyone, now—on to the dinner and lets watch as this angsty/sweet fic mutates into a horror. Woo!